I mixed earth and snow to make a chair. I quickly constructed a modernly designed dwelling as well. It was a harmony of “Alchemy” and “Aesthetic Sense.”
Even amid all that, Sophien was still savoring her ice cream. She ate leisurely, without spilling a single drop. Dining etiquette worthy of an emperor.
“To explain.”
Just then, Sophien set down her spoon. I turned to look at her.
“There was no time lag in Our bedchamber. The moment you shook the snow globe, We possessed the cat and made you stop. However, outside the bedchamber, there was a time lag.”
I nodded and replied.
“Yes. Then—”
“The snow globe must have spread a ‘field’ over my bedchamber. Not only within the snow globe, but within a certain radius outside it as well. It is likely a defensive mechanism of the snow globe itself.”
“Yes. Also—”
“This time lag may grow larger as time passes, or it may remain constant.”
Sophien closed her eyes for a moment. She had possessed the red-furred munchkin.
Tick— tick— the second hand of my wristwatch moved.
“······”
Opening her eyes again, she looked at my wrist. Then she reached a conclusion.
“The time lag is increasing little by little. Four days in here amount to roughly one day in the outside world.”
“I see.”
It was a reasonable deduction. Sophien propped her chin on her hand and asked in return.
“You do not doubt it?”
“There is no way Your Majesty would say something incorrect.”
I recited the very words she had just said to me. She let out a small laugh and picked up her ice cream.
“······Still, it is quite wondrous.”
I checked the flow of blood within my body. I estimated the density of mana outside. I calculated the speed at which my mana recovered.
I had consumed a total of 5,000 mana with “Midas’s Hand” and “Understanding” of the snow globe, but 200 mana had already filled back up.
“There is not a single difference from the outside world. Rather, the mana density is thicker. It is quite suitable for training or studying.”
I turned to Sophien. Sophien needlessly tilted her head at an angle, like a child who had just been told to study.
“Your Majesty?”
“······You train. While waiting for you, We trained in Word Spirit and swordsmanship, so We have nearly exhausted all Our mana. We are in a state of depletion.”
“Is that so? Then I shall ask Sir Keiron instead.”
I called Keiron in her stead. Keiron stood firmly behind Sophien.
“Sir Keiron.”
“······.”
“Sir Keiron?”
“That fellow is a statue.”
Sophien said.
I tapped Keiron’s body with my finger. Clang— a metallic sound rang out.
“He left that statue behind and went off to investigate. To find out how vast this world is, and what lies within it.”
“······.”
“It will take quite a long time for him to return. When the head is foolish, the body suffers.”
I nodded. Sophien waggled her eyebrows with a pleased look.
“What. Is it burdensome, being alone with Us?”
“I am only grateful to be able to remain with Your Majesty.”
“······.”
Sophien stared fixedly into me. She scrutinized every wrinkle and expression on my face. Then she twisted her imperial countenance into a strange shape.
“That is no empty flattery.”
“Of course not.”
“······.”
Sophien can discern human emotions. That applies to me as well.
Whoooosh—
A wind blew at just the right moment. She drew the collar of her cape coat closed.
I asked.
“Are you cold?”
“······We have been inside the imperial palace all this time, after all. And We ate something cold in a cold place.”
I took off my outer coat. Sophien looked at me with eyes that were somewhat flustered.
I handed her the coat and said,
“My suit jacket is comparable to an artifact. Its temperature control function should keep you warm.”
“······.”
Sophien wordlessly laid the jacket over her coat. Since “Midas’s Hand” had been applied to it at stage four, its performance was certain.
“It is warm.”
“Yes.”
“However······ Deculein.”
“Yes.”
“Did you know?”
The emperor, who had broached the subject that way, suddenly became stiff-faced.
“Freyden was involved in Our poisoning. The family of your fiancée.”
For a moment, the breath of space came to a halt. Even time seemed to stop.
In this cold snow globe, I looked at Sophien.
“It was not only Freyden. There were many other families as well. Among them was Yukline.”
Sophien simply scooped up ice cream and ate it.
“Nearly every prestigious house on the continent joined hands to kill Us. Freyden stood at the center.”
“······.”
“But why did they······ do such a thing?”
Sophien, who had been gazing at the ice cream, lifted her head. Her eyes were dry as desert sand.
“Of course, We have no intention of blaming you now. The problem lies with your predecessors.”
“Do you intend to take revenge?”
“······Even that is faint.”
Sophien sighed.
“If We were to punish them all, it is tiresome even to imagine what repercussions would sweep across the continent. And even if We punished them, they would not suffer as much as We have. Their lineages would merely be exterminated.”
“······.”
“And so We feel like running away.”
I looked at Sophien.
Now, quite strangely, a “death variable” was spreading from her.
It was a signal of suicide.
It was ironic.
Having escaped ennui and sloth, she had instead learned the whole truth too easily, and in the end, she had come to harbor doubt.
Because, compared to the time and passion required for her revenge, and for planning the continent’s future as emperor, the reward she would gain was exceedingly small.
“I will remain by Your Majesty’s side. So please do not say such things.”
“······Hmph. What nonsense. There is no need. What changes just because someone like you is by Our side?”
“No.”
Sophien sneered. I glared at the red aura flickering beside her. The death variable was burning like a raging fire.
“I will always be present in every step Your Majesty takes.”
For an instant, her face stiffened.
Of course, this was a measure to suppress the death variable, but it was by no means a lie.
I said to Sophien,
“And at the very end of all Your Majesty’s paths, I will certainly be there. At that end, I will face Your Majesty. Even if it costs me my life.”
I did not bother to add, “After all, your death means game over.”
“······.”
“So, do not run away. The emperor of the empire never shows their back.”
Sophien’s expression turned as cold as ice. She was silent for a long while.
However, before long, she gave a rather awkward smile.
“Deculein. Do you know?”
“What do you mean?”
Whoooooosh— a whirlwind rose in the distance. Snow powder mixed from the road surface, becoming a blizzard. I looked at that enormous current of air.
And Sophien spoke as lightly as the wind.
“You have already died for Us.”
“······.”
I shifted my gaze back to Sophien. The words she had just spoken carried no small meaning.
“······Your Majesty?”
A small smile settled at the corners of Sophien’s mouth.
“Enough. Let us focus on the present situation. It seems this snow globe is not some romantic thing like a bunker or cradle.”
Without a word, she looked at the blizzard on the horizon. A natural disaster howled, dyeing the snow globe dark. At the same time, the ground began to crack— rrrrip.
“Deculein······.”
Before Sophien could say anything, the ground collapsed. A crevasse had suddenly formed.
Kududududududu───!
We plummeted in sudden free fall. As I fell through the air, I looked at Sophien, and Sophien looked at me.
Swaaaaaaa───
The air pressure of mana surged in, leaving me unable to breathe. Within it, I did what I had to do. Using “Psychokinesis” and “Alchemy,” I created a line and connected the Keiron statue above to Sophien.
Thanks to that, Sophien escaped the fall at some point, but I continued to descend.
Unfortunately, I lacked the mana to connect myself as well.
······Because I had squandered 4,000 mana on that damned ice cream.
* * *
Meanwhile, the Red Garnet Adventurer Party arrived at the dungeon “Derakal” in the western part of the imperial capital. It was a high-grade dungeon named after its first discoverer.
“Hiyah—!”
Lia’s cry echoed through the dungeon.
Epherene watched her and let out an admiring ohhh. The fighting spirit she showed as she released mana with a blood-soaked body was indeed worthy of admiration.
“That child is truly talented too. It was called ‘Attribute Conversion,’ right?”
The capture of the middle stage was nearly finished.
At Epherene’s words as she watched the battle—actually, watched them build practical combat experience—from a corner of the dungeon, Ganesha nodded.
“Of course. She’s our treasure~”
“Attribute Conversion.” One of Lia’s magical talents. As the name suggested, it was a talent that allowed her to freely convert water into earth, earth into fire, fire into wind, and so on.
Though she was still inexperienced.
“And this is a secret.”
Ganesha brought her mouth to Epherene’s ear.
Originally, she had not intended to say this much, but······.
—They say our Lia resembles the professor’s first fiancée. Not just resembles her, but like a doppelgänger.
Ganesha coveted Epherene. As a mercenary mage, her skills were practically perfect. After all, she had burned an entire dungeon room to the ground with a single destructive spell.
“What?!”
Epherene opened her eyes wide and looked at Ganesha.
“If you mean his first fiancée—”
“Shh. Now it’s your turn to speak, Ms. Epherene. Why have you continued investigating Professor Deculein~?”
Epherene hesitated for a moment. She pondered how to say it. Even if she did say it, she was unsure whether Ganesha would believe her.
“It’s all right. Even if it’s completely absurd, I’ll believe you~ I’m an adventurer, after all.”
Ganesha’s words encouraged her. Epherene took a deep breath, then spoke.
“In the past······ I met my future self.”
“What a coincidence. So did I.”
“······What?”
“It’s nothing to be surprised about~ I even know how I die~”
“Huh, Ms. Ganesha, you went to Rokralen too?”
“No.”
Ganesha smiled brightly. Then she split the word into two syllables.
“De. mons.”
“······Ah.”
“Those bastards know very well how to break a human being~ So they showed me my death. Whether that is a future that cannot be changed, a future that can be changed, or the very future I desperately struggle to change into being······ they make me suffer nightmares every single day.”
Ganesha laughed as if sighing. Her pigtails fluttered sorrowfully.
“What demons want is simply for humans to fall. Of course, sometimes there are demons who want something beyond that, but in the end, their essence is the same.”
“I see······ Pfft.”
Epherene, who had been listening blankly, burst into laughter without realizing it. Ganesha tilted her head.
“Why?”
“I thought of the professor.”
Epherene thought of Deculein.
The corruption of humans that demons desired.
That cunning amusement would not work at all on the one person in this world.
“If demons enjoy the fall of humans, you know. The professor, he’s······.”
“That’s right. The professor will never move according to a demon’s will. Deculein of Yukline makes even demons tremble in fear~”
Clap, clap, clap— Ganesha clapped her hands. It was praise for Lia, Leo, and Carlos, who had distinguished themselves on the battlefield.
“Good! Well done, everyone! Now begin butchering the corpses and collecting materials!”
“““Yes, Captain!”””
After giving the three children their orders, she returned to the main topic.
“So. I still haven’t heard why you’re investigating the professor, Ms. Epherene. What did you hear from your future self~?”
Epherene gave a faint smile. Soon, the voice that flowed through her teeth was rather gentle.
“······She told me not to hate him too much. And Mage Gindalf also said something strange to me.”
“What was it?”
“This is really even stranger······ something about the professor cherishing me. Or that he carries a pendant with a photo of me from when I was little······.”
“Oh, really?”
Ganesha’s eyes went round. Epherene shook her head in disbelief.
“That’s fascinating. If that’s true, then it probably really is true?”
“Come on. Even so······.”
“No. There is definitely a reason why Professor Deculein would cherish you, or hate you. The cause is probably······ somewhere among your family, isn’t it?”
Slice, slice— The chilling sound of Lia cutting through the monster’s hide rang out.
Epherene flinched and looked that way, then turned her head back at Ganesha’s words.
“And Dikailen isn’t dead yet.”
“What?!”
Epherene’s face fell open in shock. Ganesha nodded with utter seriousness.
“The fact that he appears in your dreams means Dikailen is targeting you.”
“······.”
Epherene clutched at the hem of her robe.
“But don’t worry too much. With your talent, Miss Epherene, you should be able to defeat Dikailen.”
“······Yes.”
“And the Professor won’t let things go the way Dikailen wants. That dependable Professor will protect you, won’t he?”
······Deculein would protect her.
Those words struck Epherene’s heart like a club.
Looking back, Deculein had always been like that.
At the disciplinary committee at the beginning of the semester, when she had been on the verge of expulsion.
When she had ignorantly entered the Mountain of Darkness and nearly fallen victim to a demon.
Even when she had attended the hearing as a witness on the side opposing Deculein······.
Epherene clenched her teeth. Saliva pooled in her mouth. Her eyes were damp with some unknown moisture.
“So, I can only tell you the exact same thing your future self said.”
Epherene looked back at Ganesha. Ganesha handed her a wet towel, along with a single sentence.
“Don’t hate the Professor too much.”
“······Huwaang.”
Streams of tears flowed from Epherene’s eyes, which could hold back no longer.
* * *
Thud───!
My entire body struck the ground. Perhaps I had fallen long ago and only just awakened a moment ago.
In any case, darkness surrounded me on all sides, and my sense of direction would not right itself. Every organ in my body was filled with a terrible shock.
I could not perceive the passage of time. Above all, a cold far harsher than I had imagined was tearing my whole body apart.
However, at first, I thought it was not entirely a bad thing.
「Iron Man」 developed precisely in extreme situations.
In that sense, this moment was a heaven-sent opportunity to train.
How would 「Iron Man」 develop after accepting Karla’s 「Authority」? This was the perfect opportunity to test that question in the harshest way possible. It was time to solidify my foundation through self-mastery.
······However.
Cold.
I said it was cold, but no voice came out. My inhuman mental strength prevented me from losing consciousness, but anything beyond that was impossible.
A hollow laugh escaped me anew.
A bitter cold difficult to endure even with the body of 「Iron Man」.
Even calling it absolute zero would be putting it lightly.
I unfolded what little mana I had left. I tried to raise flames, but the mana composing the magic circle froze. The form of the magic circle hardened stiffly in midair.
‘Mana’ had frozen. It had crystallized in itself under the cold.
Theoretically, it was an impossible phenomenon.
······.
Within this dark, bitter cold, I slowly rose. My vision blurred, as if my consciousness itself were freezing and crumbling.
Even so, I moved my legs.
I did not even know how many steps I had taken. Only, before I realized it, my body tilted.
“Haa······.”
······Was I enduring right now, or was I dying?
Was the ego that would break before it ever bent now being snapped?
Slowly, gradually, my eyes closed.
······Fuck this.
I clenched my teeth. I would never lose to something as trivial as bitter cold. I straightened my body. I accelerated the blood flow through my frozen organs and forcibly raised my mana.
······And then.
At some moment while I was struggling desperately.
[Action Quest: Endure unbearable magical cold.]
◆ 「Iron Man」’s 「Authority」 has bloomed.
:「Cold Adaptation」 acquired.
◆ 「Iron Man」’s versatility has expanded.
Before I knew it, the action quest had been cleared.